Synergistic Effects of a Chalkophore, Methanobactin, on Microbial Methylation of Mercury

Yin, Xixiang; Wang, Lihong; Zhang, Lijie; Chen, Hongmei; Liang, Xujun; Lu, Xia; DiSpirito, Alan; Semrau, Jeremy D.; Gu, Baohua

doi:10.1128/AEM.00122-20

Title: Synergistic Effects of a Chalkophore, Methanobactin, on Microbial Methylation of Mercury

Journal Article · Tue May 19 00:00:00 UTC 2020 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00122-20 · OSTI ID:1615790

Yin, Xixiang ^[1]; Wang, Lihong ^[2];

^[3];

^[4]; Liang, Xujun ^[5];

^[3]; DiSpirito, Alan ^[6]; Semrau, Jeremy D. ^[7];

^[5]

Jinan Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Jinan (China); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Qilu Univ. of Technology, Jinan (China)
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA (United States)
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

Microbial production of the neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg) is a significant health and environmental concern, as it can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food web. A chalkophore or a copper-binding compound, termed methanobactin (MB), has been shown to form strong complexes with mercury [as Hg(II)] and also enables some methanotrophs to degrade MeHg. It is unknown, however, if Hg(II) binding with MB can also impede Hg(II) methylation by other microbes. Contrary to expectations, MB produced by the methanotrophMethylosinus trichosporiumOB3b (OB3b-MB) enhanced the rate and efficiency of Hg(II) methylation more than that observed with thiol compounds (such as cysteine) by the mercury-methylating bacteriaDesulfovibrio desulfuricansND132 andGeobacter sulfurreducensPCA. Compared to no-MB controls, OB3b-MB decreased the rates of Hg(II) sorption and internalization, but increased methylation by 5- to 7-fold, suggesting that Hg(II) complexation with OB3b-MB facilitated exchange and internal transfer of Hg(II) to the HgcAB proteins required for methylation. Conversely, addition of excess amounts of OB3b-MB or a different form of MB fromMethylocystisstrain SB2 (SB2-MB) inhibited Hg(II) methylation, likely due to greater binding of Hg(II). Collectively, our results underscore the complex roles of microbial exogenous metal-scavenging compounds in controlling net production and bioaccumulation of MeHg in the environment. Some anaerobic microorganisms convert inorganic mercury (Hg) into the neurotoxin methylmercury, which can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food web. While the genetic basis of microbial mercury methylation is known, factors that control net methylmercury production in the environment are still poorly understood. Here, it is shown that mercury methylation can be substantially enhanced by one form of an exogenous copper-binding compound (methanobactin) produced by some methanotrophs, but not by another. This novel finding illustrates that complex interactions exist between microbes and that these interactions can potentially affect the net production of methylmercuryin situ.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Natural Science Foundation of China; National Science Foundation; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725; SC0018059

OSTI ID:: 1615790

Journal Information:: Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 86; ISSN 0099-2240

Publisher:: American Society for MicrobiologyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Synergistic Effects of a Chalkophore, Methanobactin, on Microbial Methylation of Mercury

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